In a world where it can be day on one side of the globe and simultaneously night on the other, we need a way to regulate time. This is the reason why different time zones exist, but how do we regulate those time zones? The answer: Zulu time. While you’ve probably heard of Zulu time without realizing it, not everyone has a solid grasp on what it is. This article will help you with understanding the basics of Zulu time.

What Is Zulu Time?

Zulu (Z) time is the time at Prime Meridian by which all other time zones are calculated. If you haven’t heard of Zulu time, you’ve likely heard of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). These are all essentially the same thing; the main differences are that GMT is a time zone, while UTC is a time standard, and UTC was developed after GMT and is a more accurate system of measuring time. Z time is simply another name for UTC. It is calculated based on the rotation of the earth and our concept of a 24-hour day and begins counting the hours at midnight.

How Is Zulu Time Used?

In addition to being used to calculate the times in other time zones, Zulu time is regularly used in meteorology, the military, and navigation. This is because it’s especially important for people in these industries to be able to communicate using precise, standardized times. In these situations, time zones are typically spanned—for example, a flight might cross from one time zone to another, a storm might travel across the country, or a military base might need to communicate with another base in a different time zone. Using Zulu time eliminates potential confusion and makes things simpler for everyone in these situations.

Do you prefer to track time in Zulu time or the time of your standard time zone? Understanding the basics of Zulu time will help you to make this decision and evaluate the pros and cons of each. Regardless of how you choose to keep track of time, you’ll need a clock. Our custom LED clocks can be set to either 12 or 24-hour times and can be further customized to fit your desires and needs. Contact us for a quote on your custom clock today.